Masters Historic Formula 1 cars form part of British Grand Prix undercard

The British Formula 1 Grand Prix will be supported by the Masters Historic Racing Championship, with ’70s and ‘80s historic F1 cars racing over the weekend of July 5-8 at Silverstone.

Entries from the European Masters Championship and the USA Masters championship will be invited, with 3-litre cars from 1966-85 – most of them rev-limited Cosworth DFV-powered cars ­– supporting their V6 hybrid contemporaries.

The Masters Championship will also run at the Silverstone Classic (July 20-22) and its own Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch (May 27-28).

Historic F1 cars supported the United States and Mexican Grands Prix in 2017, as well as the Canadian and Singapore GP weekends. This will be the first time that the Masters Championship will support an F1 race in the European leg of the F1 calendar.

“The fact that we have been asked to organise a support race at the British Grand Prix certainly reflects the quality of the show we put on at Montreal, Austin and Mexico City last year,” said championship founder Ron Maydon. “I’m sure that we will evoke many wonderful memories with the spectators that were also present at Silverstone and Brands in the seventies and eighties as well as fascinate the younger part of the crowd.”

Silverstone managing director, Stuart Pringle, said that the inclusion of historic F1 cars was based on feedback from fans wanting to watch classic F1 cars take to the track in anger. This inclusion will form part of Silverstone’s programme to celebrate 70 years of hosting Grand Prix racing.

“We regularly ask our fans for feedback on how we can further improve their British Grand Prix experience and requests for more track action and the opportunity to see classic Formula 1 cars are always high up on the list,” said Pringle.

“I believe that the inclusion of the two Masters Historic Formula One races to the timetable will tick both those boxes and will not only be a fantastic crowd-pleaser but also a great addition to the weekend in a year which sees Silverstone celebrate its 70th anniversary.”